IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/snopef/v6y2025i2d10.1007_s43069-025-00432-1.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Multi-criteria Optimization Scheduling of Surgical Units: A Case Study at Policlinico Umberto I of Rome

Author

Listed:
  • Anna Livia Croella

    (Sapienza University of Rome)

  • Edoardo Maria Tronci

    (Accenture S.p.A.)

  • Alberto Nastasi

    (Sapienza University of Rome)

  • Laura Palagi

    (Sapienza University of Rome
    CNR-IASI)

  • Federico Petitti

    (Sapienza University of Rome)

  • Ferdinando Romano

    (AOU-Policlinico Umberto I)

Abstract

Nowadays, managing Operating Rooms (ORs) in healthcare systems presents a significant challenge, with underutilization of surgical facilities being a key concern. Several decision factors must be considered, including the number of ORs, operating hours, target utilization rates, and the possibility of patient transfers between surgical units (SUs). This study presents a multi-criteria mixed-integer linear optimization model designed for the specific context of Policlinico Umberto I in Rome. The model uses an open scheduling approach to determine the optimal day, time, and OR allocation for weekly surgeries. Using real data from two SUs and four ORs over twelve weeks, we assess the impact of different operating time policies on hospital Key Performance Indicators. Additionally, we introduce randomly generated data to simulate surgery priorities and further validate our model. Results demonstrate the effectiveness of mathematical optimization in improving OR utilization and overall healthcare efficiency.

Suggested Citation

  • Anna Livia Croella & Edoardo Maria Tronci & Alberto Nastasi & Laura Palagi & Federico Petitti & Ferdinando Romano, 2025. "Multi-criteria Optimization Scheduling of Surgical Units: A Case Study at Policlinico Umberto I of Rome," SN Operations Research Forum, Springer, vol. 6(2), pages 1-26, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:snopef:v:6:y:2025:i:2:d:10.1007_s43069-025-00432-1
    DOI: 10.1007/s43069-025-00432-1
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s43069-025-00432-1
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s43069-025-00432-1?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Andreas Fügener & Sebastian Schiffels & Rainer Kolisch, 2017. "Overutilization and underutilization of operating rooms - insights from behavioral health care operations management," Health Care Management Science, Springer, vol. 20(1), pages 115-128, March.
    2. De Santis, Marianna & Grani, Giorgio & Palagi, Laura, 2020. "Branching with hyperplanes in the criterion space: The frontier partitioner algorithm for biobjective integer programming," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 283(1), pages 57-69.
    3. Angela Testi & Elena Tànfani, 2009. "Tactical and operational decisions for operating room planning: Efficiency and welfare implications," Health Care Management Science, Springer, vol. 12(4), pages 363-373, December.
    4. Shehadeh, Karmel S. & Padman, Rema, 2021. "A distributionally robust optimization approach for stochastic elective surgery scheduling with limited intensive care unit capacity," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 290(3), pages 901-913.
    5. Agnetis, Alessandro & Bianciardi, Caterina & Iasparra, Nicola, 2019. "Integrating lean thinking and mathematical optimization: A case study in appointment scheduling of hematological treatments," Operations Research Perspectives, Elsevier, vol. 6(C).
    6. Erwin W. Hans & Peter T. Vanberkel, 2012. "Operating Theatre Planning and Scheduling," International Series in Operations Research & Management Science, in: Randolph Hall (ed.), Handbook of Healthcare System Scheduling, chapter 0, pages 105-130, Springer.
    7. Penn, M.L. & Potts, C.N. & Harper, P.R., 2017. "Multiple criteria mixed-integer programming for incorporating multiple factors into the development of master operating theatre timetables," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 262(1), pages 194-206.
    8. Angela Testi & Elena Tanfani & Giancarlo Torre, 2007. "A three-phase approach for operating theatre schedules," Health Care Management Science, Springer, vol. 10(2), pages 163-172, June.
    9. Aringhieri, Roberto & Duma, Davide & Landa, Paolo & Mancini, Simona, 2022. "Combining workload balance and patient priority maximisation in operating room planning through hierarchical multi-objective optimisation," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 298(2), pages 627-643.
    10. Shuwan Zhu & Wenjuan Fan & Shanlin Yang & Jun Pei & Panos M. Pardalos, 2019. "Operating room planning and surgical case scheduling: a review of literature," Journal of Combinatorial Optimization, Springer, vol. 37(3), pages 757-805, April.
    11. Inês Marques & M. Captivo & Margarida Vaz Pato, 2015. "A bicriteria heuristic for an elective surgery scheduling problem," Health Care Management Science, Springer, vol. 18(3), pages 251-266, September.
    12. Sebastian Rachuba & Brigitte Werners, 2017. "A fuzzy multi-criteria approach for robust operating room schedules," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 251(1), pages 325-350, April.
    13. Koppka, Lisa & Wiesche, Lara & Schacht, Matthias & Werners, Brigitte, 2018. "Optimal distribution of operating hours over operating rooms using probabilities," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 267(3), pages 1156-1171.
    14. Cardoen, Brecht & Demeulemeester, Erik & Beliën, Jeroen, 2010. "Operating room planning and scheduling: A literature review," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 201(3), pages 921-932, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Shuwan Zhu & Wenjuan Fan & Shanlin Yang & Jun Pei & Panos M. Pardalos, 2019. "Operating room planning and surgical case scheduling: a review of literature," Journal of Combinatorial Optimization, Springer, vol. 37(3), pages 757-805, April.
    2. Salma Makboul & Said Kharraja & Abderrahman Abbassi & Ahmed El Hilali Alaoui, 2022. "A two-stage robust optimization approach for the master surgical schedule problem under uncertainty considering downstream resources," Health Care Management Science, Springer, vol. 25(1), pages 63-88, March.
    3. Sean Harris & David Claudio, 2022. "Current Trends in Operating Room Scheduling 2015 to 2020: a Literature Review," SN Operations Research Forum, Springer, vol. 3(1), pages 1-42, March.
    4. Md Al Amin & Roberto Baldacci & Vahid Kayvanfar, 2025. "A comprehensive review on operating room scheduling and optimization," Operational Research, Springer, vol. 25(1), pages 1-30, March.
    5. Michael Samudra & Carla Van Riet & Erik Demeulemeester & Brecht Cardoen & Nancy Vansteenkiste & Frank E. Rademakers, 2016. "Scheduling operating rooms: achievements, challenges and pitfalls," Journal of Scheduling, Springer, vol. 19(5), pages 493-525, October.
    6. Akbarzadeh, Babak & Maenhout, Broos, 2024. "A study on policy decisions to embed flexibility for reactive recovery in the planning and scheduling process in operating rooms," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 126(C).
    7. Omolbanin Mashkani & Andreas T. Ernst & Dhananjay Thiruvady & Hanyu Gu, 2023. "Minimizing patients total clinical condition deterioration in operating theatre departments," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 328(1), pages 821-857, September.
    8. Makboul, Salma & Olteanu, Alexandru-Liviu & Sevaux, Marc, 2025. "A multiobjective ϵ-constraint based approach for the robust master surgical schedule under multiple uncertainties," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 320(3), pages 682-698.
    9. Bovim, Thomas Reiten & Christiansen, Marielle & Gullhav, Anders N. & Range, Troels Martin & Hellemo, Lars, 2020. "Stochastic master surgery scheduling," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 285(2), pages 695-711.
    10. Rachuba, Sebastian & Imhoff, Lisa & Werners, Brigitte, 2022. "Tactical blueprints for surgical weeks – An integrated approach for operating rooms and intensive care units," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 298(1), pages 243-260.
    11. Aisha Tayyab & Saif Ullah & Mohammed Fazle Baki, 2023. "An Outer Approximation Method for Scheduling Elective Surgeries with Sequence Dependent Setup Times to Multiple Operating Rooms," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-15, May.
    12. repec:ipg:wpaper:2013-014 is not listed on IDEAS
    13. Şeyda Gür & Mehmet Pınarbaşı & Hacı Mehmet Alakaş & Tamer Eren, 2023. "Operating room scheduling with surgical team: a new approach with constraint programming and goal programming," Central European Journal of Operations Research, Springer;Slovak Society for Operations Research;Hungarian Operational Research Society;Czech Society for Operations Research;Österr. Gesellschaft für Operations Research (ÖGOR);Slovenian Society Informatika - Section for Operational Research;Croatian Operational Research Society, vol. 31(4), pages 1061-1085, December.
    14. Akbarzadeh, Babak & Moslehi, Ghasem & Reisi-Nafchi, Mohammad & Maenhout, Broos, 2019. "The re-planning and scheduling of surgical cases in the operating room department after block release time with resource rescheduling," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 278(2), pages 596-614.
    15. Zhaohui Li & Haiyue Yu & Zhaowei Zhou, 2024. "Scheduling of elective operations with coordinated utilization of hospital beds and operating rooms," Journal of Combinatorial Optimization, Springer, vol. 47(5), pages 1-29, July.
    16. repec:ipg:wpaper:201414 is not listed on IDEAS
    17. Shuwan Zhu & Wenjuan Fan & Tongzhu Liu & Shanlin Yang & Panos M. Pardalos, 2020. "Dynamic three-stage operating room scheduling considering patient waiting time and surgical overtime costs," Journal of Combinatorial Optimization, Springer, vol. 39(1), pages 185-215, January.
    18. Koppka, Lisa & Wiesche, Lara & Schacht, Matthias & Werners, Brigitte, 2018. "Optimal distribution of operating hours over operating rooms using probabilities," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 267(3), pages 1156-1171.
    19. Grigory Korzhenevich & Anne Zander, 2024. "Leveraging the potential of the German operating room benchmarking initiative for planning: A ready-to-use surgical process data set," Health Care Management Science, Springer, vol. 27(3), pages 328-351, September.
    20. repec:ipg:wpaper:14 is not listed on IDEAS
    21. Silva, Thiago A.O. & de Souza, Mauricio C. & Saldanha, Rodney R. & Burke, Edmund K., 2015. "Surgical scheduling with simultaneous employment of specialised human resources," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 245(3), pages 719-730.
    22. Nico Dellaert & Jully Jeunet, 2013. "Pareto optimal strategies for improved operational plans of elective patients under multiple constrained resources," Working Papers 2013-14, Department of Research, Ipag Business School.
    23. Marques, Inês & Captivo, M. Eugénia, 2017. "Different stakeholders’ perspectives for a surgical case assignment problem: Deterministic and robust approaches," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 261(1), pages 260-278.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:snopef:v:6:y:2025:i:2:d:10.1007_s43069-025-00432-1. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.